Yager was born on January 3, 2005,[1] to parents Cam and Maureen in Saskatchewan, Canada. Although he was raised in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, the family moved to Saskatoon when he was 11 years old. Yager was born into an athletic family as both his father and older brother played ice hockey. His father was a goaltender for the Detroit Falcons in the Colonial Hockey League while his brother played in the Saskatchewan Male U18 AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL).[2]
Playing career
Early years
Growing up in Saskatchewan, Yager played bantam hockey with the Martensville Marauders in the Saskatchewan Male U15 League from 2017 to 2019. In his first season with the team, he recorded 35 goals and 24 assists for 59 points through 31 games.[1] He improved during the 2018–19 season by accumulating 44 goals and 59 assists for 103 points through 31 games.[3] Following this, Yager played two seasons with the Saskatoon Contacts in the Saskatchewan Midget 'AAA' Hockey League (SMAAAHL) as an underage player. Due to his age, he was required to receive "exceptional player" status to play at 14.[3] In the 2019–20 season, during which he turned 15, he finished third in team scoring with 18 goals and 24 assists for 42 points through 44 games.[4] He continued to impress during that year's playoffs, as he led the Contacts in scoring with two goals and six assists for and eight points through six games.[3]
Junior
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Yager was drafted third overall in the 2020 Western Hockey League (WHL) Bantam Draft by the Moose Jaw Warriors.[3] Due to the foregoing pandemic, Yager was able to make his major junior debut at the age of 15 without gaining "exceptional player" status. This was because the pandemic restricted the options available to players during the winter and spring.[5] In his rookie season, Yager set a new franchise record for 16-year olds by tallying 34 goals through 63 regular season games during the 2021–22 season.[6] As a result of his exceptional play, Yager became the first Moose Jaw player to receive the Canadian Hockey League (CHL)'s Rookie of the Year award.[7] Yager also received the Jim Piggott Memorial Trophy as Rookie of the Year across the WHL.[8]
Yager returned to the Warriors for the 2022–23 season where he was named an alternate captain.[9] In this new role, he recorded career highs in points and assists with 78 and 50 respectively. He ranked second on the team in points and 22nd among all WHL players.[10] Yager's production helped the Warriors finish fourth in the Eastern Conference with a 37–24–4–3 record.[6] At the conclusion of the season, Yager received the Brad Hornung Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Sportsmanlike Player.[11] Ahead of the 2023 NHL entry draft, Yager was ranked fourth among all skaters by The Sports Network's Director of Scouting Craig Button.[12] He was eventually selected in the first round, 14th overall, by the Pittsburgh Penguins.[10]
In the 2023–24 season, Yager played 57 games, managing 35 goals and 60 assists while accruing only 20 penalty minutes. He earned the Hornung Trophy for the second consecutive season, and was ultimately named CHL Sportsman of the Year.[13][14] Yager played a key role in the Warriors' deep run in the 2024 playoffs, which saw them defeat the Portland Winterhawks in the WHL Finals to hoist the Ed Chynoweth Cup. He had 11 goals and 16 assists in the postseason, third in team scoring.[15] As WHL champions, the Warriors went on to participate in the 2024 Memorial Cup. They were ultimately eliminated by the host Saginaw Spirit in the tournament semi-final. Yager had three goals and three assists in four games played.[16] He was named to the Memorial Cup All-Star Team for the tournament.[17]
On July 25, 2024, Yager signed his first professional contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins, signing a three-year, entry-level deal.[18] On August 22, 2024, Yager was traded by the Penguins to the Winnipeg Jets in exchange for the signing rights to prospect Rutger McGroarty.[19]
Yager was traded to the Lethbridge Hurricanes on December 2, 2024 alongside teammate Jackson Unger in exchange for three players and a series of draft picks.[20]
